Guayota

Guayota,inGuanchemythology ofTenerife(theCanary Islands), was the principal malignant deity andAchamán's adversary.

Mount Teide on Tenerife, according to mythology, was the home of Guayota.

Mythology

According to Guanche legend, Guayota lived inside theTeidevolcano, one of the gateways to the underworld. He was said to be represented as a blackdogand was accompanied by demons, also in the form of black dogs, known astibicenas.

According to legend, Guayota kidnappedMagec(thesun) and shut it up inTeide,plunging the world into darkness. Humans prayed toAchamánwho saved Magec and instead locked Guayota up in Teide. Guayota is the king ofevilgenies,and was part of Guanche mythology.

Features

Guayota shares features similar to other malignant deity-inhabitants of volcanoes as in the case of the goddessPeleinHawaiian mythology,who lived in theKīlaueavolcano and was regarded by the nativeHawaiiansas responsible for the eruptions of the volcano.

In popular culture

Currently, like other aboriginal gods, Guayota remains a typical Canary creature folklore. His evocation is present in many and varied elements of popular culture:

• In the northern city ofPuerto de la Cruza pub is named after him: thePub Guayota.
• InGranadilla de Abonathe associationBomberos Guayota(Guayota Firemen) is based.
• There is also theGrupo Folklórico Guayota.
• Aheavy metalband is named after him.
• The 2018 and 2019 champions of Spanish beach ultimate are namedGuayota.
• Guayota is featured as the main antagonist inNight BrokenbyPatricia Briggs,the eighth novel in herMercy Thompsonseries.
• In the indie video gameGaurodan,Guayota appears as the final Boss.
• In the 2015 bookThe Evil Among Us,Guayota is mentioned.

See also

• The Canarian lizard genusGallotiaand the speciesGallotia gallotiare named after the naturalist DGallot,not after Guayota.

External links

• Guanche religion